How to Throw A Throwing Knife

Knife throwing is a long-held tradition to show your skill and to prove your “manliness”. Now knife throwing can be done by anyone, male or female, young and old.

The history of knife throwing goes as far back as prehistoric times when hunters of the past would throw hunting sticks to catch prey, such as birds and other animals.

Knife throwing can be used in martial arts or in a more sports application. In both instances, it uses the basics of mechanics and requires a developed skill set.

In more modern times, knife throwing has become a full-fledged sport with competitions being held all over the nation.

Knife throwing is great for recreational purposes as it provides an avenue for stress release and the development of precision and hand-eye coordination.

Below we’ll share some advice given to us by the writers down on the popular blog, The Art Of Manliness on how to throw a knife. Another option for this is the Swiss Army Knife.

How to Hold a Throwing Knife

Tom suggests an unconventional hold and releases when knife throwing. A lot of people will hold the knife so that their thumb is on the side of the knife and will release it so that the blade is vertical to the target. That being said, Tom sure knows how to throw a knife.

Tom doesn’t like this knife hold for two reasons. First, he believes it puts your hand in an awkward position, thus preventing sufficient oomph in your throw to make the knife stick. And second, when you hold and release the knife like this, your thumb can inadvertently cause it to wobble in the air, causing your knife to bounce off your target instead of sticking.

How to Throw a Knife

1. Find your throwing line

As with throwing a tomahawk, the key to successfully throwing a knife is the distance between you and the target. Measure off about five normal steps from the target and draw a line. That should give you enough distance so the knife makes a complete rotation in the air before sticking in the target.

2. Take a full step back

Once you’ve found your throwing line, take a full step back.

3. Take a 45-degree step back and to the left

Sort of like a field goal kicker. If you’re left-handed, take a 45-degree step back and to the right.

4. Throwing steps.

You’ll notice that your throw line is now two steps in front of you. That’s what we want. This room for two steps will allow us to get as much power as we can behind our throw.

Throw the knife as hard as you can. In order to successfully throw a knife, you have to throw it hard. You have to throw it so hard that when the knife sticks “the tree’s ancestors feel it,’’ advises Tom.

Keep your knife horizontal to the target throughout the throw. This ensures you get proper knife rotation when you release the knife.

5. Release the knife

When your throwing arm is fully extended towards the target, simply let go of the knife.

6. Follow through

Whether you’re throwing a baseball or a knife, always follow through.

After practicing the above and getting the knife to stick, you may be ready to try out your hands on some more advanced techniques.

And now you know how to throw a knife!

How to Throw a Knife: Advanced Techniques

Once again, the Art of Manliness comes to the rescue and gives us some advanced techniques to try out once we’ve developed the taste for knife throwing.

Spear Style

This style is thrown primarily in combat situations. This throw is a lot more difficult than the one thrown above, but we know you love a challenge!

The point is to throw the knife the way you would throw a spear so that you would get little to no rotation.

The huge advantage to this throw is that you don’t have to worry how far you are from the target or how many rotations you need to have before the knife hit the target. You just throw and pray that it sticks. A knife sharpener plays an important role on this for sure.

This throw, just like the one shown above, just requires practice, patience, and persistence (the Three P’s of Life!).

The “Professional” Technique

The name seems a bit intimidating, but we know you’re not afraid.

As the name suggests, this throw is often used by professional knife throwers.

Like the first throw, the first step is to find your throwing distance.

Then, you stand at the throwing line and put your left foot back (reverse this stance if you’re left-handed).

Then just take a step forward with your left foot and (drum roll, please) just throw it.

There, you see, you’re now officially a professional. Like Tom.

Well, after that we’re ready to take a break, but don’t y’all stop now!

Go outside and grab your friends and family. You may also use this technique with a pocket knife that comes in handy.

Knifeista.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.